Like so many others, my debit card (company debit card at that) showed up with unauthorized charges in the amount of $29.95 on 11/05. Being an attorney, I immediately began to research the matter. Here is what I found out:
They are a company that "offers" trial memberships for savings programs (gift cards, etc.). For "trying" their program they offer to send you a Wal-Mart gift card or something similar. But here is the problem - I never heard about them nor accepted any free trial. So I spoke to a supervisor on the phone (named Gloria - ID# 4789). She said the offer was generated and accepted from a pop-up advertisement offer I would have had to agree to. But I never entered any information much less agreed to a trial program like this. Lesson learned - after every internet use clear your cookies and saved information! Their pop-up automatically looks into your cookies for information previously entered and populates the required fields and then if you click the wrong button to say ok to the offer they have all info and make the charges. This is deceptive and they could very well be prosecuted for it I am sure. However with such small charges noone is likely to go after them as most people who are irrate about it they will simply refund - end of story and they go on to the next victim. They immediately offered to refund my money and after doing so, I asked for some information to proceed further with these scam artists. There website is above. Their phone number is 1-800-548-0685. It gives you a recording and options. Press 1 to enter your "membership #" (of course you do not know what your membership # is), so just enter 12345. It will confirm 12345 and then send you to a live operator who will first ask for your email address. I would not give mine. I gave only my first and last name which she was able to get the information with and promptly offered a refund and an apology. Then, I spoke to the supervisor (Gloria) and asked her how they got the info (she told me from a pop-up offer). I asked for their address and she gave me:
Po box 5152
Des plaines, il 60017
So I asked for a physical address (other than a PO Box) and she gave me:
9500 west dodge road
Omaha, ne 68114
Definitely has all the signs of a shady scamming organization and while I resolved my problem, it sucks that they are hitting others with it - some that may not even notice immediately. Hope the information above can help others. Remember clear your internet cookies, don't accept pop-up offers and never "confirm" your bank account number over the phone unless you called the party and actually know who they are/what their company is. Good luck all.
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